IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 
D 


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sont  indiquis  ci-desnous. 


r~n    Coloured  pages/ 


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Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
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T 
tc 


T 

P 
o 
fi 


O 
b 
t^ 

si 
o 
fi 
■i 

oi 


Tl 
si 
Tl 
w 

di 
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re 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieiiement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  dti  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th0  copy  filmed  hart  hat  been  reproduced  thanka 
to  the  generoalty  of: 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
Canadian  History  Department 


L'axemplaire  filmA  fut  reprodult  grfice  A  la 
giniroait*  da: 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
Canadian  History  Department 


The  imagea  appearing  here  are  the  beat  quality 
poaaibia  conaidaring  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  apecificationa. 


Original  copiea  in  printed  paper  covera  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  laat  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatrated  imprea> 
aion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copiea  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
firat  page  with  a  printed  or  Illuatrated  Imprea- 
aion,  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustreted  impreaaion. 


Lea  imagea  auivantes  ont  6t6  reproduitas  avec  ie 
plut  grand  aoin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  netteti  de  Texempiaire  fiimi,  at  en 
conformity  avec  lea  conditiona  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Lea  axemplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  eat  imprim6e  aont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  aoit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illuatration,  soit  par  Ie  aecond 
plat,  aelon  Ie  caa.  Toua  lea  autrea  axemplairaa 
originaux  aont  film6a  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illuatration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  laat  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
ahall  contain  the  aymbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  aymbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  appliea. 


Un  dea  aymboiea  auivanta  apparattra  aur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cea:  Ie  aymbola  — ►  aignifie  "A  SUiVRE".  Ie 
aymbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Mapa,  platea,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
fiim^s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reprodult  en  un  seul  clich6,  11  est  f  ilm6  h  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  heut  en  bas.  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'imagea  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustraht  la  m6thode. 


12  3 

— 1— — Li»»— 1— — i— ^— — I 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Jk  fv  ::, 


\ 


From  the  United  Servira  Journal. 

REMARKS  ON  THE  DEFENCES  AND  RESOURCES 

OF  CANADA  IN  THE  EVENT  OF  A  WAR. 

BY   CLAUDIUS  SHAW,   ESQ..  K.   S.  T.,  LATE  Of  THE 
ROYAL  ARTILLERY. 

At  this  time,  when  all  eyes  are  turned  to  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic  with  so  much  anxiety, 
and  from  the  very  great  probability  there  is  just 
now  of  an  eruption  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States,  a  few  remarks  from  a  person  who 
served  in  Canada  during  part  of  the  last  war,  and 
remained  several  years  in  that  country,  when  he 
visited,  on  duty,  every  military  post  in  both  prov- 
inces, and  had  particular  opportunities  of  making 
observations,  may  not  be  unacceptable. 

When  the  last  war  with  the  States  broke  out, 
all  the  disposable  British  troops  were  engaged  in 
the  Peninsula,  and  those  under  Sir  George  Pro- 
vost, the  Governor  of  the  Canadas,  were  very  few 
indeed,  and  they  dispersed  over  some  thousand 
miles  of  frontier.  The  force  consisted  only  of 
two  regular  regiments  of  the  line,  4lBt  and  49tb, 


and  some  provincial  and  foncible  corps  just  raised. 
The  militia  were  quite  unorganized,  and  some 
among  them  were  considered  a  little  disaffected ; 
but  this  last  number  was  small. 

The  gallant  and  lamented  General  Brock  was 
the  first  to  set  the  example  by  commencing  hos- 
tilities. He,  with  one  wing  of  the  49th,  part  of 
the  41st,  and  a  few  unorganized  militia,  made  a 
dash  from  York,  and  captured  Detroit.  He  was 
following  up  his  success  in  other  parts  when  death 
put  an  end  to  his  career  in  the  moment  of  victory  ; 
and  thus  fell  a  man  universally  beloved  and  es- 
teemed by  all  parties. 

Soon  after  this  a  war  of  extermination  was 
waged  along  the  frontiers.  A  party  of  Americans 
crossed  the  Niagara  river  at  Fort  Georgo,  near 
where  it  falls  into  Lake  Ontario,  and  set  fire  to 
the  village  uf  Newark,  as  it  was  then  called— 
Niagara  at  present. 

It  was  in  the  most  inclement  season  of  the  year, 
the  beginning  of  February,  the  ground  covered 
with  snow,  and  the  thermometer  several  degrees 
below  zero,  when  the  American  general,  M'Liire, 
and  his  myrmidons,  crossed  the  river.  Arriving 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  they  gave  the 
inhabitants  notice  that  in  two  hours  they  would 
commence  burning,  and  that  they  might  do  the 
best  they  could  in  that  time.  What  were  the 
i;oor  people  to  do?  All  the  young  men  and 
horses  were  away  towards  Burlington,  fifty  miles 
off;  there  was  nobody  but  old  men,  women,  and 
children.  Some  were  sick  in  bed— two  women 
had  actually  been  confined  that  very  night — yet 
off  they  must  go.  No  house  or  village  near. 
Through  the  Black  Swamp  lay  their  road.  About 
four  miles  off  were  some  farms ;  here  the  poor 
creatures  crept,  but  there  was  not  accommodation 
for  the  inhabitants  of  a  whole  village.  Some  of 
them  had  to  go  more  than  twelve  miles  before 
they  could  get  shelter.  Their  road  was  well  illu- 
minated ;  for  the  burning  houses  shone  brightly 
on  the  white  snow. 

This  act  was  not  long  being  avenged ;  and  the 
American  villages  of  Buffalo,  Lewiston,  and 
Blackrock,  soon  shared  their  fate. 

It  is  nut  our  intention  here  to  enter  into  a  detail 
of  events  which  occurred  during  the  last  war, 
though  we  may  have  to  revert  to  them  occasional- 
ly, but  more  to  use  them  as  examples  of  what  have 
happened,  and  might  occur  again  in  the  event  of 
hostilities.  We  will,  therefore,  take  s  cursory 
view  of  the  defences  of  the  province  in  the  first 
instance,  beginning  at  Quebec,  as  below  this  the 
security  of  the  St.  Lawrence  must  be  trusted  to 
our  never-failing  wooden  walls. 

The  position  of  Quebec  and  its  works  are  so 
strong,  and  the  country  so  difficult  of  access,  that 
there  is  not  the  least  probability  of  its  being  at- 
tacked by  American  troops  ;  and  the  river  may  be 
considered  perfectly  secure  from  aggression  till  we 
come  to  the  Montreal  district. 

The  southern  part  of  the  district  of  Montreal  is 
one  most  vulnerable  point,  and  has  always  been 
the  seat  of  war  since  the  earliest  period  that  Euro- 
pean arms  have  been  used  on  the  western  side  of  . 
the  Atlantic.  . . 

This  frontier  is  intersected  for  a  considerable 
distance  by  a  navigable  river  and  IvXnf,  of  which 
Lake  Champlain  is  the  most  impoitant  and  re- 
markable in  history.  On  a  small  isfand,  Isle  Auz 
Noix,  we  have  a  considerable  fortification,  which 
would  prevent  shipping  frorji  going  up  the  River 
St.  John's  to  Charobly,  which  wa&^,«ir.  important 


,te'r  n  I»At 


\^  ^A  \  V^ 


sV.O  ;} 


'f\ 


kibt^j:-' 


Si? 


THE  DEFENCES  AND  BESOURCES  OF  CANADA. 


77 


post  durinf;  the  ^ast  war,  and  head-quarters  for  a 
regiment  of  infaniry,  one  of  cavalry,  and  a  force 
of  field-artillery.  But  though  we  may  hold  thoM 
points,  the  first  step  to  be  taken  is  tu  seize  upon 
the  Crown  Point.  In  the  event  of  a  war  it  must 
become  British  by  right  of  conquest  and  tenure ; 
for  without  it  we  lose  the  command  of  this  lake, 
which  is  so  important  an  object  in  Canadian  war- 
fare. It  was  the  want  of  this  that  caused  our 
misfortune  on  this  lake  in  1814,  and  made  our 
ar(ny,  composed  at  that  time  of  the  best  soldiers 
in  the  world,  retire  before  a  few  half-disciplined 
Americans.  Had  Commodore  Downie  succeeded, 
the  success  would  have  been  complete ;  but,  inde- 
pendent of  the  loss  sustained  by  his  death,  it  was 
next  to  impossible  he  could  have  been  victorious. 
His  vessel  was  (juite  new,  badly  found,  worse 
manned,  and  his  cannon  of  ditferei-t  calibies.  The 
crew  was  principally  composed  of  Canadians,  who 
mostly  spoke  French,  and  the  few  English  saihtrs 
there  were  could  not  be  understood  by  them  ;  be- 
sides, they  were  all  strangers  to  each  other.  The 
business  tm  the  lake  was  soon  decided,  and  the 
troops  ordered  to  retire.  This  last  there  was  not 
the  least  occasion  for,  at  least,  not  till  the  fort  was 
destroyed.  This  will  be  borne  out  by  Generals 
Brisbane,  Power,  and  Robinson  ;  and  last,  not 
least,  the  American  General  Macomb  told  the 
writer  of  this  article  that  he  was  just  about  giving 
orders  to  his  men  tu  retreat,  and  was  never  more 
astonished  in  his  life  than  when  he  heard  the 
British  bugles  sound  one,  and  saw  them  com- 
mence to  move  off.  This  retreat  of  eighteen 
miles  caused  the  light  company  of  the  76th  to  be 
entirely  cut  off  and  made  prisoners,  their  captain 
killed,  several  others  killed  also,  and  more  ord- 
nance stores  and  ammunition  lost  than  in  both  the 
retreats  from  Talavera  and  Burgos,  besides  an 
immense  quantity  of  men  who  deserted. 

This  country  must  l)e  well  known  to  many  offi- 
cers now  serving  in  Canada,  as  it  was  pretty  near 
the  scene  of  the  late  rebellion.  This  is  an  advan- 
tage ;  because,  in  the  case  of  another  fix  with 
Brother  Jonathan,  this  ground  is  likely  to  be  again 
the  scene  of  conflict. 

We  will  now  return  to  Montreal.  During  the 
last  war  this  was  quite  an  open  place,  without  any 
fortification  whatever.  Soon  after,  the  island  of 
St.  Helens  was  purchased  by  our  government,  and 
strongly  fortified.  It  is  not  quite  a  mile  from  the 
city  of  Montreal,  and  serves  not  only  to  quarter 
our  troops  out  of  town,  but  also  defends  the  ship- 
ping. The  river  is  navigable  so  far  from  the 
ocean  for  vessels  of  considerable  burthen  ;  and  in 
the  summer  there  is  daily  steam-communication 
from  and  to  Quebec ;  though  it  was  not  till  the 
close  of  the  war  that  the  second  steamer  was 
built.  Above  St.  Helens  the  river  expands  to  a 
great  width,  forming  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water 
across  to  Longueil  and  La  Prairie.  Above  this 
are  very  formidable  rapids;  and  goods,  &c.,  are 
now  transported  to  Lachine,  a  distance  of  seven 
or  eight  miles,  by  canal.  Formerly  everything 
was  carried  over  in  small  Canadian  carts.  The 
scenery  from  this  point  is  most  beautiful ;  above 
Isle  Perault  the  Uttowa  falls  into  the  St.  Law- 
rence. The  banks  above  this  are  well  defended, 
as  there  are  some  very  strong  rapids  between  this 
and  Coteau  du  Lac,  which  is  a  considerable  work. 

From  the  Uttowa  a  canal,  called  the  Rideau 
Canal,  has  been  formed  since  the  war;  so  that 
stores,  &c.,  may  be  forwarded  to  Kingston  with- 
out being  exposed  along  the  frontier  on  the  banks 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  as  before. 


It  is  remarkable  that  the  Americans  should  have 
allowed  us  to  pass  stores,  as  we  did,  in  open  boats, 
during  the  whole  war.  Not  only  commim  stores 
were  sent  up  this  way  to  Kingston,  but  the  whole 
frame  of  a  frigate,  the  Psyche,  which  had  been 
built  in  England,  and  sent  out  in  pieces  to  Quebec 
or  Montreal,  there  unl«)aded,  and  sent  by  carts  to 
Lachine ;  from  thence  they  were  embarked  in 
batteax,  and  sent  up  the  river  to  Prcscott  or  Fort 
Wellington,  where  an  immense  raft  was  made. 
A  battalion  of  marines,  and  two  light  guns,  untlcr 
an  officer  of  artillery,  were  placed  upon  it,  and 
taken  through  the  Lake  of  One  Thousand  Islan«l8 
to  Kingston,  where  the  raft  was  taken  to  pieces 
and  formed  into  a  frigate,  without  the  loss  of  any 
material  part.  So  particular  were  our  government 
at  home  that  nothing  might  be  wanting  to  equip 
the  ship  fully  for  sea,  that  they  even  took  the  pr<;- 
cauticm  of  sending  out  staves  for  water-casks,  on 
the  fresh  Lake  of  Ontario !  And  a  merchant  ia 
Kingston  was  able  to  recognize  his  own  private 
mark  upon  some  of  the  timber,  which  he  had  sent 
to  England  from  Canada  some  time  previous. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that,  in  the  event  of  another 
war,  our  people  at  home  will  learn  a  lesson  from 
past  experience,  and  be  a  little  more  careful. 

This  frigate  cost  government  one  million  of 
pounds  sterling ! 

This  raft  has  run  away  with  us  to  Kingston 
before  our  time,  so  we  must  return  again  to  Coteau 
du  Lac,  From  here  the  river  is  not  easily  crossed 
by  any  number  of  boats,  on  account  of  the  rapids  ; 
yet  there  are  some  important  points  to  be  consid- 
ered. 

Where  the  45°  of  latitude  strikes  the  St.  Law- 
rence is  the  spot  where  the  United  States  come 
first  u|ion  the  St.  Lawrence,  close  to  the  Indian  vil- 
lage of  St.  Itegis,  nearly  opposite  our  town  of 
Cornwall.  And  from  this  point  the  treaty  of  Ghent 
determined  that  the  boundary-line  between  the 
British  and  the  Americans  should  be  the  centre  of 
the  water-communication,  as  far  as  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods,  and  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  south  of 
the  river  Columbia,  in  about  42^  of  north  latitude, 
—that  is,  the  river  ;  where  the  exact  boundary  may 
be  we  in  our  ignorance  cannot  pretend  to  decide 
at  present. 

The  Scotch  settlement  of  Glengarry  is  near  this 
place.  Here  the  loyalty  of  the  inhabitants  was 
always  conspicuous,  as  they  raised  a  most  effec- 
tive  corps  of  light  infantry,  which  was  highly  dis- 
tinguished during  the  war. 

Near  Glengarry  is  an  island  which  is  very  im- 
portant, and,  owing  to  some  blunder  among  our 
cominissit)ner3  for  the  survey  of  the  boundary  line, 
it  was  given  over,  by  a  decision  of  the  emperor  of 
Russia,  to  the  Americans.  This  island  lies  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  the  mainland,  or  nearest 
island  north,  but  then  the  water  is  very  shallow 
on  the  British  or  north  side — we  remember  stick- 
ing in  the  mud  in  an  unarmed  gun-boat — while  on 
the  other  side  there  is  plenty  of  water  to  float  a  fri- 
gate. Our  surveyors  were  not  ordered  to  sound 
the  depths  of  the  streams ;  and,  as  it  appeared  that 
the  channel  was  triV/e  enough,  the  island  was 
given  over  without  the  least  remark.  Though 
many  of  the  people  on  the  adjacent  shores  were 
aware  of  this  blimder,  we  never  heard  of  its  being 
rectified. 

In  the  event  of  another  war,  from  the  circum- 
stance of  the  transport  going  round  by  the  Rideau 
canal,  it  would  not  be  of  so  much  consequence  as 
formerly,  yet  it  might  be  important,  in  the  event 
of  wishing  to  push  troops  up  in  a  hurry,  and 


78 


THB  DEFENCES  AND  RESOURCES  OF  CANADA. 


BhouliI  be  taken  posfifiSBion  of  immediately.  A 
detachment  ofiho  i;allaiit  suns  of  thu  Iliciilanders 
could  always  hold  it ;  as  no  douht  they  have  the 
proppr  hliiiid  in  thtir  veins.  At  all  events  the  mat- 
ter should  he  jiiv(;stifratud  without  loss  of  time. 

For  ahout  ihirly  miles  ahovethis  the  river  keeps 
pretty  full  of  rapids,  til!  within  a  Kliort  distance  of 
rrescotl,  a  small  villajyo  near  Fort  Welliiiifion. 
This  work  was  constructed  iluriiiff  the  last  war. 
It  was  very  hadly  planned  from  itio  lirM,  heinjj 
only  a  S(|<iare,  without  ilanks  or  ditch.  It  had  a 
slronjf  blockliimso  in  the  centre,  into  which  if  the 
fjarrison  should  have  heeii  driven  they  miu'ht  have 
been  all  masted.  The  outer  works,  i>r  surround- 
ini;  parapet,  only  served  to  mount  a  few  ^muis  on, 
to  keep  the  American  villajje  of  Ojideiishur^'h  in 
order.  Tho  rtver  here  is  very  narrow,  not  much 
above  eiijht  hundred  yards  across.  The  village 
of  Prescott,  bcintf  at  the  foot  of  the  steam  naviga- 
tion from  ]vin<rstoii,  may  rise  to  some  importance. 
Immediattdy  above  this  it  wide.is  again  into  thu 
Lake  of  One  Thousand  Islands. 

During  the  last  war  there  were  two  small  posts 
at  Gananoqui  and  Cataraqui,  Indian  villaiies,  but 
as  the  Americans  could  at  any  time  run  over 
through  the  islands,  it  was  considered  necessary 
to  have  some  small  works  here ;  and  tiiey  ako 
served  as  harbors  to  the  gun-boats  we  wen; 
obliged  to  keep  running  constantly  among  these 
islands. 

Tlie  Lake  of  One  Thousand  Islands  contracts 
rapidly  before  coming  to  Kingston.  Passing  i)e- 
tween  an  i.sland  and  some  high  laud.  Lake  Ontario 
lies  in  wide  expanse  before  you.  Turning  sharp 
to  the  right,  the  traveller  has  a  view  of  the  town 
of  Kingston,  lying  close  to  the  water's  edge  ;  on 
the  hill  immediately  on  his  right,  which  he  has 
just  come  round,  stand  the  high  towers  of  Fort 
Henry.  At  the  foot  of  this  is  a  deep  bay  running 
up,  in  which  is  the  dockyard ;  this  is  again  pro- 
tected by  a  fort  au  pleine  d'«j}u,  mounting  eight  or 
nine  guns,  32  and  21-pounders. 

Fort  Henry  contains  two  large  stone  towers, 
capable  of  mounting  two  heavy  guns  on  lop  of  each, 
besides  smaller  ones  in  the  sides ;  so  that,  in  ca.su 
the  outer  fort  might  be  carried,  the  garrisim  couM 
maintain  themselves  inside.  There  are  good  stone 
barracks,  and  the  works  arc  well  rcveted  with 
stone,  mounting  several  guns.  It  is  quite  inac- 
cessible, except  on  the  land  side,  and  there  it  could 
only  be  carried  by  a  regular  siege ;  but,  being 
situated  on  a  rocky  point,  it  would  be  no  easy 
matter  for  an  enemy  to  make  his  approaches. 

The  dockyard  is  at  the  foot  of  this  hill,  upon 
the  low  land  of  Fort  Frederick,  as  dcscribcsd 
above  ;  a  large  arm  of  the  lake  runs  between  thi.s 
and  the  town,  about  six  hundred  yards  across,  and 
extends  five  or  six  miles  into  the  country.  On 
the  shore  above  the  town  are  two  small  forts,  Mis- 
sissaqui  and  Gurney's  Points,  capable  of  holding 
three  or  four  heavy  guns  each.  A  small  island, 
called  Snake  Island,  about  three  miles  up  the 
lake,  is  fortified ;  it  has  a  block-house  and  one  or 
two  guns.  It  having  an  extensive  view  of  the 
lake,  can  always  make  signals  to  the  town  and  other 
works  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  though  it 
could  not  do  much  itself  to  prevent  a  Hcet  entering 
the  bay.  A  chain  of  block-houses  and  a  stockade, 
round  the  land-side  of  the  town,  fmishes  the 
defence  of  Kingston. 

During  the  last  war  this  was  the  great  arsenal 
for  the  Upper  Lakes.  A  stranger  might  have 
almost  fancied  himself  near  Purtsntouth.     In  the 


hay  there  lay  the  St.  Lawrence,  98  guns,  carrying 
I'JO,  in  her  stern  she  had  10  guns,  to  keep  small 
craft  from  lying  under  it ;  the  Regent,  41 ;  the 
Psyche,  8<> ;  the  Montreal,  20  ;  Niagara,  12  ;  and  a 
large  store-ship,  or  transport,  besides  schooners  and 
gun-boats.  When  the  ships  were  in  harbor  there 
w  as  all  the  stir  and  bustle  conunon  to  such  scenes ; 
there  were  hundreds  of  ship-carpenters  in  the 
dockyard,  with  all  the  usual  accompaniment  of 
riggers,  sailmakers,  et  hoc  gniux  timni",  Tho 
peace  came,  these  ships  were  all  laid  up  in  ordi- 
nary, and  most  probably  by  this  time  they  have  dis- 
appeared altogether;  as  they  were  built  of  unsea- 
soned limber,  it  h  not  probable  they  could  have 
held  together  all  this  time. 

The  Americans  had  a  similar  establishment  at 
.'^acketl's  Harbor,  about  twenty  miles  up  the  lake. 
They  had  about  the  same  number  of  ships  as  we 
bad,  though  none  so  large  as  the  St.  Lawrence. 
Tluiy  used  to  cruise  across  the  mouih  of  the  Hay 
of  Kingston  every  Suiulay  evening,  while  the  St. 
Lawrence  was  building,  bragging  that  as  soon  as 
she  was  ready  they  would  meet  our  fleet  outside 
the  Ducks  (islands  so  called.)  At  last  the  St. 
Lawrence  was  launched,  and  ready  for  sea  ;  she 
sailed,  and  all  the  fleet  with  her,  one  wing  of  the 
UOth  Ilegiment  on  board,  acting  as  supeinuinerary 
marines — they  were  to  be  left  at  Niagara,  if  they 
got  there.  Great  was  the  anxiety  of  the  Kings- 
lonians  awaiting  the  event — not  a  soul  was  in 
tlieir  beds  after  daylight — the  fleet  sailed — the 
people  cheered — and  anxiety  was  dej)irtrd  in 
j  every  countenance.  Every  noise  that  was  heard 
j  was  taken  for  a  gun  ;  everybody  started  at  the 
I  least  sound  ;  but  no  c^^»  was  heard  till  the  garri- 
1  son-gun  at  sunset,  'i'he  fleet  passed  the  Ducks, 
I  but  no  Ikotlier  Jonathan  was  there — he  cither  for- 
got to  cmne  out,  or  did  not  choose.  He  never 
assigned  any  n.-ason.  So  in  a  few  days  our  fleet 
returned,  after  throwing  in  provision  and  supplies 
to  our  forces  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  and  neither 
saw  tir  heard  of  the  enemy. 

Some  months  previous  to  this  Sir  George  Pro- 
vost had  made  an  attack  on  Sackett's  Harbor, 
which  succeeded  in  every  point  except  one  ;  there 
a  small  blockhouse  still  held  out.  Our  troops  had 
landed  with  but  little  resistance,  the  Americans 
were  retreating,  we  could  have  had  their  dock- 
yard in  flames  in  five  minutes ;  but  no,  our  com- 
mander ordered  tlie  men  to  retire  and  rt  end)ark, 
without  setting  fire  to  tho  dockyard,  or  doing 
tho  least  injury  to  anything.  There  was,  how- 
ever, the  extraordinary  scene  of  two  hostile  armies 
back  to  back  ! 

There  was  a  gallant  little  afllliir  further  np  the 
lake,  at  Oswego,  where  a  small  dockyard,  stores, 
&c.,  were  destroyed. 

The  shores  of  Ontario  are  mostly  precipitous 
clay  banks,  till  they  come  near  Toronto ;  the 
country  round  is  now  well  settled,  and  there  are 
some  iiourisliing  villages,  such  as  Coburgh  and 
Hamilton,  scattered  along  them,  though  there  is 
no  harbor  or  place  of  any  importance  till  arriving 
at  Toronto.  Here  is  a  considerable  bay,  at  the 
end  of  which  is  the  city  ;  it  is  shallow,  and  only 
admits  small  ves.sels.  There  is  a  fort  upon  the 
rising  ground  within  the  bay,  too  far  from  the 
town  tu  be  of  any  service  to  it  in  case  of 
need. 

The  American  troops  eflfectcd  a  landing,  and 
the  Uritish  troojis  evacuated,  the  magazine  blow- 
ing up  just  as  they  were  about  to  take  possession  ; 
the   American  general  and  several  of  his  men 


THE  DEFENCES  AND  RESOURCES  OF  CANADA. 


79 


being  killed,  the  rest  reembarked.  and  the  Brjti*li 
troops  gallantly  returned  fcuia  a  distance,  and  kept 
potsessiun. 

At  the  back  of  Toronto,  there  is  a  considerable 
settlement,  which  extends  u|t  Yonge  xtreet,  about 
seventy  inilea  back  to  the  sliorcs  of  I<akc  Hur«in, 
at  Penutangui«ht'no  and  Nottawataga ;  these  were 
important  naval  posts  during  the  latit  war.  The 
country  thon  was  not  even  surveyed  ;  in  this  dis- 
trict now  there  is  a  t1ouri:>liing  suttlenient  almost 
all  the  way. 

We  must  now  proceed  to  more  classical  ground, 
on  the  Niagara  frontier.  The  mouth  of  the  river 
lies  about  twciily-ihrce  miles  nearly  south  of 
Toronto.  On  its  right  hank  is  the  American  fort 
of  Niagara;  tiiis  is  one  of  tiie  oldest  buildings  in 
this  country,  having  been  built  l>y  the  French,  on 
their  first  selllemeut,  as  a  defence  against  the 
Indians.  It  is  a  very  large  and  strongly-built  edi- 
fice, the  walls,  especially  near  the  lower  part, 
being  extremely  thick ;  it  is  three  stories  high, 
and  guns  are  moinitcd  on  the  top  ;  but  it  is  proba- 
ble, if  they  were  of  heavy  calibre,  that  tlieir  own 
firing  would  injure  the  building.  This  is  sur- 
ro'inded  by  some  njodern  fortifications  and  bar- 
rack?, and  altogether  makes  a  very  respectable 
fort ;  it  eomplutely  eumiuauds  the  entrance  of  the 
river. 

It  was  carried  by  a  gallant  covp  dc  main  last 
war.  A  party  oj"  the  UH)th  Uegiment,  under 
Major  Hamilton,  crossed  die  river  about  two  miles 
up,  where  tliero  was  a  ijeinl  ;  they  disembarked, 
and  caiiglit  the  i)arty  relievinir  an  aiivanced  sentry. 
Tiniy  had  left  the  gate  open  behind  ;  they  were 
made  to  give  the  countersign — an  odlcer  and  a 
few  men  dashed  <mi  and  secured  the  gate — the 
guard  was  seized  before  they  coidd  give  the 
alarm.  The  soldiers  were  mostly  in  bed — they 
made  hut  little  resistance — in  a  (luarlt^r  of  an  hour 
the  whole  business  was  fiiiislied — and  tlie  fort  re- 
mained in  possession  of  the  Uritish  till  the  close 
of  ti)c  war. 

In  the  event  of  hostilities,  something  of  a  simi- 
lar nature  must  be  done  ;  at  all  events.  Fort  Ni- 
agara must  be  British. 

The  old  Fort  George  stood  some  hundred  yards 
higher  up  the  river  ;  it  was  a  low  square  fort, 
without  tower  or  blockhouse  of  any  desf-ription, 
except  low,  log,  loop-lioled  barracks.  This  fort 
was  so  tiJmirahly  placed,  that  it  could  be  enfiladed 
upon  every  face  by  tlie  enemy's  siiot ;  but  he 
never  seemed  to  have  skill  enough  to  [dace  his 
artillery  so  as  to  annoy  the  people  in  the  fort ; 
indeed,  he  never  tried,  but  with  a  few  liuht  guns 
he  would  have  made  the  place  too  hot  to  he 
tenable.  Tlie  remains  of  General  Urock  were 
interred  in  one  of  the  l)astions,  and  were  the 
means  of  preserving  the  fort  fiir  scnne  years,  till  a 
beautiful  monument  was  erected  for  him  on 
Queciistiin  Ileiglita,  near  wiiere  he  was  killed. 
This  monument  was  afterwards  defaced  and  partly 
thrown  down  by  a  Yankee  blackguard,  iiamed 
Lett. 

The  Mississaqui  Fort  was  built  during  the  war ; 
it  consisted  of  a  strong  tower  of  brickwork,  with 
guns  oil  the  toj),and  was  surrounded  by  an  earthen 
star  fort,  which  had  several  (juns  mounted  in  it, 
but  it  was  far  too  confined  to  be  of  mucli  use,  and 
there  was  scarcely  accommodation  for  a  few  ar- 
tillerymen within  its  inclosure. 

It  was  disc(»vered  soon  after  the  war,  when  the 
guns  in  Fort  George  were  ordered  to  fire  iipiui  tiie 
building  in   Fort   Niagara,   that    a  twenty-four- 


pounder  had  no  effiet  upon  the  buildii:"'  at  six 
hundred  yards  !  The  reason  was  the  powder  had 
been  so  long  in  store  that  its  strength  was  all 
gone.     What  state  is  it  in  now  ? 

From  these  forts  the  country  runs  pretty  level 
as  far  as  Quecnslun.  Here  it  rises  abruptly  alNiut 
three  hnndrcd  fitet,  into  what  is  commonly  called 
"  the  iMountain."  This  is  a  table-land,  which  runs 
all  round  the  south  side  of  Lake  Ontario.  Lake 
Krie  is  situated  on  this,  and  running  down  into  the 
Niagara  river  or  strait,  falls  over  about  seven  miles 
above  Queenston,  and  causes  the  far-famed  cata- 
ract. The  river  can  be  crossed  as  far  up  as 
Qucen.^ton  ;  hut  here  it  becomes  too  rapid,  and 
cannot  be  again  till  about  two  miles  abovu  the 
falls,  where  the  Wtlland  or  Chippewa  river  runs 
into  the  Niagara. 

This  was  a  point  of  some  importance,  and  this 
river  was  crossed  by  a  bridge,  defended  by  a  tite 
du  ponl.  The  main  road  from  Fort  Ge«)rge  to 
Fort  F.rie  passed  through  it,  and  there  was  no 
good  road  for  a  considerable  distance  to  the  right; 
indeed,  there  was  none  of  any  importance,  except 
merely  to  farm  houses. 

The  Welland  Canal  has  been  constructed  since 
the  war ;  it  runs  from  this  river  to  the  shores 
of  Lake  Ontario,  at  St.  Catherine's,  a  ccuisider- 
able  village  now.  Daring  the  war,  there  were 
not  above  three  or  four  houses  and  a  small 
church. 

Fort  Krie  was  situated  at  the  head  of  the  Ni- 
agara river ;  it  consisted  of  two  strong  stone 
buildings,  inclosed  within  an  earthen  rampart. 
This  was  garrisoned  by  two  or  three  ciunpanies, 
commanded  by  a  major.  Some  Americans  came 
over,  and  suiumoned  the  place,  which  he  gave  up 
without  hesitation  :  it  re(iuired  a  regular  siego 
to  get  it  again.  Tliis  occurred  about  the  period 
when  the  St,  Lawrence  and  the  other  vessels  went 
up  the  lake. 

When  the  Americans  found  wc  were  about  in- 
vesting the  place,  they  in  one  night  threw  op  a 
breastwork  from  the  fie  ,  to  connect  a  small  hill 
(Snake  Hill)  about  a  i.,/.,  'jff,  which  was  imme- 
diately on  the  lake  shore,  iid  prevented  us  from 
turning  their  fiank,  or  getting  between  them  and 
the  water. 

After  it  was  considered  that  a  respectable  breach 
had  lieeii  fi)rmed  in  the  mud  bastion,  dispositions 
were  made  fiir  a  general  attack.  The  8th  Regi- 
ment and  Do  Watteville's  were  sent  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Snake  Hill ;  the  others  to  storm  the 
breach,  and  be  in  reserve.  The  flints  were  taken 
out  of  the  muskets,  and  the  troops  moved  to  the 
attack  with  the  bayonet.  The  light  company  of 
the  8ili  succeeded  in  getting  in  ;  hut  as  the  Ameri- 
cans did  not  choose  to  give  them  time  to  fix  their 
Hints,  they  had  no  opportunity  to  open  a  fire  upon 
the  rear  of  the  Americans,  which  would  have 
driven  them  away  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
Yankees  drove  them  out.  An  explosion  taking 
place  on  tlie  breach,  just  as  our  troojjs  had  es- 
tablished themselves  there,  nearly  a  whole  com- 
pany was  destroyed,  and  the  Americans  reinuiiiei^ 
masters  of  their  fort ;  all  because  the  fiints  hadi 
been  taken  out  of  the  muskets. 

Why  Fort  ririe  should  have  been  thought  wor- 
tiiy  of  a  regular  siege  is  inexplicable  ;  had  iha 
British  moved  up  sharply  after  the  buBiness  of 
Liindy's  Lane,  near  the  falls  of  Niagara,  they 
might  have  been  up  nearly  as  soon  as  the  Ameri- 
cans ;  at  all  events,  they  would  not  have  given 
thctn  time  to  establish  themselves,  and  they  might. 


80 


THE  DEFENCES  AND  RESOURCES  OF  CANADA. 


have  been  driven  at  once  into  the  lake,  or  other- 
wise annihilated,  without  all  the  trouble,  expense, 
and  loHH  of  men  and  time  attendant  nn  a  sieirc. 
Soon  after,  the  Americans  retired  across  the 
water,  without  naying  anythinif,  and  tiiure  was 
not  a  single  American  soldier  in  the  province  in 
1814. 

The  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane  was  fuofrht  some 
time  before  ;  it  did  not  commence  till  afternoon, 
and  was  a  sad  confused  piece  of  business.  An 
American  ffun  was  limbered  up  to  a  liritish  lim* 
ber,  and  vice  versti.  The  Glenparry  regiment  had 
been  skirmisliinij  in  front,  and  were  ccrminjy  in 
again,  when  a  liritish  regiment  taking  them,  from 
their  dark  uniforms,  for  Americans,  fired  ^  volley 
into  them,  and  did  them  more  injury  than  the  ene- 
my had  all  night.  Ho  much  for  the  system  of 
night  attacks.  It  still  remains  a  matter  of  doubt 
to  whom  the  victory  belonged,  both  parties  claim- 
ing it ;  but  the  British  may  he  considered  as  vic- 
tors in  this  case,  as  they  remained  on  the  ground, 
and  allowed  the  Americans  to  move  off  unmo- 
lested in  the  course  of  next  day,  and  make  them- 
selves as  comfortable  as  circumstances  would  per- 
mit in  Fort  Erie. 

Lake  Erie  is  about  two  hundred  miles  long  from 
Buffalo  to  Amherstberg  ;  it  is  of  no  great  depth, 
and  vessels  can  anchor  in  any  part.  The  site  of 
the  fort  is  well  chosen,  as  it  commands  the  en- 
trance into  the  river.  About  twelve  miles  higher 
ap  is  an  important  point,  affording  a  good  shelter 
under  Point  Abino,  when  the  wind  will  not  per- 
mit of  vessels  running  into  the  river,  which,  ex- 
cept Buffalo,  is  the  only  harbor  at  this  end  of  the 
lake.  About  halfway  up  the  lake,  the  Ouse,  or 
Grand  River,  falls  into  it.  This  was  made  a  naval 
station,  and  served  as  a  winter-harbor  fur  our 
ships.  There  is  also  good  shelter  under  Long 
Point.  We  had  a  redoubt  near  here,  so  as  to  pro- 
tect vessels  between  Long  and  Turkey  Points,  this 
also  being  the  most  probable  place  fur  the  enemy 
to  land,  as  it  is  easy  of  access,  and  a  flourishing 
settlement  running  for  some  distance  back,  might 
bs  a  temptation  to  them. 

In  the  upper  end  of  the  lake  are  some  important 
islands,  one  in  particular.  Put-in-bay  Island,  so 
called  from  the  beautiful  harbor  it  contains,  where 
a  large  fleet  may  lie  perfectly  secure  while  wait- 
ing for  a  wind  up  or  down.  This  lake  never 
freezes  all  across,  though  it  does  for  a  considera- 
ble distance,  at  least  thirty  miles  below  Amherst- 
berg. 

We  lost  a  fleet  there  of  several  vessels,  after  a 
gallant  action,  in  which  Captain  Barclay,  the  com- 
mander, lost  his  arm.  It  arose  from  the  same 
cause  as  the  failure  on  Lake  Champlain— want  of 
sufficient  equipment  and  good  crews. 

Soon  after,  two  beautiful  schooners,  the  Ne- 
wash  and  Tecumselh,  of  one  hundred  tons  each, 
were  built,  and  some  smaller  craft ;  one  of  the  lat- 
-.ter  was  commanded  by  the  famous  African  travel- 
iler,  Captain  Clapperton. 

The  town  of  Amherstberg  is  situated  upon  the 
thanks  of  the  Detroit.  There  is  a  fort  above  the 
'town  ;  it  was  never  completed,  which  is  an  ad- 
'vantage,  as  it  was  most  injudiciously  placed.  Im- 
mediately opposite  the  town  of  Amherstberg  is  the 
Island  of  Bois  Blanc ;  this  is  the  place  for  the 
fort,  as  it  commands  the  mouth  of  the  river  and 
both  channels.  It  was  very  near  sharina  the  fate 
of  the  island  near  Glengarry,  as  the  Americans 
claimed  it,  saying  that  the  channel  was  between  it 
•and  Amherstberg.    This  is  the  most  frequented 


one,  but  nevertheless,  there  is  snfficient  water  on 
the  other  side,  as  well  as  a  greater  width.  In  this 
case  we  were  fortunate  ;  but,  in  the  event  of  war, 
this  island  must  bo  fortified  immediately,  with  a 
battery  at  each  end  ;  by  this  means  the  lake  will 
be  of  little  or  no  use  to  the  party  wanting  the 
island,  as  no  vessel  can  pass  it  up  or  down,  and 
the  communication  brtwcen  the  upi>er  and  lower 
lakes  will  be  destroyed. 

About  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  higher  np  are 
the  towns  of  Sandwich  and  Windsor  ;  the  Ameri- 
can city  uf  Detroit  is  immediately  opposite  the  lat- 
ter (ilacc.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  places  in  tht» 
country,  having  been  settled  by  the  French  soon 
after  Montreal.  There  is  a  fort  here,  but  it  is 
badly  placed,  having  been  intended  only  as  a  pro- 
tection against  the  Indians  ;  it  has  but  a  poor  com- 
mand over  the  river,  it  is  some  distance  hack,  and 
stands  high,  yet  it  serves  as  a  depot  for  arms  and 
troops,  from  which  they  could  easily  be  trans- 
ported up  or  down  the  lakes,  or  sent  across  to 
plunder  on  the  Canadian  shores. 

Detroit  formerly  belonged  to  the  British  by  eon- 
quest  :  but  by  a  subsequent  treaty,  it  was  given, 
with  Fort  Niagara  and  some  other  places,  to  the 
Americans,  in  1791. 

Lake  St.  Clair  is  at  the  npper  end  of  the  De- 
troit ;  it  is  so  very  shallow,  that  vessels  of  100 
tons  burthen  find  some  difficulty  in  getting  through 
it,  as  they  stir  up  the  mud  the  greatest  part  of  the 
way.  The  river  Thames  empties  itself  into  it ; 
some  of  the  best  land  in  the  province  is  on  the 
banks  of  this  river.  At  Chatham  there  is  reserved 
ground  for  building  a  fort  on,  at  a  point  where  the 
river  branches  off.  There  was  some  skirmishing 
here,  when  General  Proctor  retired  from  Amherst- 
berg and  Sandwich.  Tecumselh,  the  great  Indian 
chief,  was  killed  on  the  occasion  ;  his  loss  was 
severely  felt  at  the  time,  as  he  possessed  abilities 
of  the  highest  order.  It  would  far  exceed  our 
limits  to  enter  into  details  here. 

The  river  St.  Clair  joins  the  lake  of  that  name 
with  Lake  Huron.  It  is  a  fine  rapid  stream.  The 
Americans  have  a  fort  on  it,  at  the  entrance  into 
Lake  Huron,  and  we  had  one  nearly  opposite. 

Lake  Huron  may  safely  be  called  one  of  the 
great  lakes,  from  its  extent  and  depth.  There  are 
many  fine  islands  upon  it,  especially  Michilimacki- 
nac,  St.  Joseph's,  and  Drummond  Island. 

The  first  is  a  very  old  settlement,  and  was  taken 
possession  of  by  our  fur-traders,  as  a  depot.  It 
belongs  to  the  United  States ;  we  took  it  from 
them  last  war,  and  kept  possession  of  it  till  the 
close. 

St.  Joseph's  was  made  a  British  settlement  after 
Mackinac  was  given  over  to  the  Americans,  and 
we  always  kept  a  garrison  there  ;  but  finding  that 
Drummond  Island,  though  a  poor  barren  rock,  was 
more  advanfaceous  as  a  military  post,  we  took 
possession  of  that  also,  and  withdrew  the  garrison 
from  the  more  fertile  place  of  St.  Joseph's,  After 
being  at  considerable  expense  in  fortifying  it,  im- 
proving the  harbor,  building  barracks,  &c.,  the 
Commissioners  for  the  Boundary  Line  discovered 
that  it  belonged  to  the  Americans  ;  and  we  were 
obliged  to  give  it,  and  all  our  improvements,  to 
Brother  Jonathan.  No  doubt  he  will  now  avail 
himself  of  them. 

This  is  the  end  of  the  navigation  from  Lake 
Erie,  as  the  rapids  of  the  Sault  Ste  Marie,  be- 
tween Lakes  Huron  and  Superior,  intervene.  The 
distance  is  not  very  great,  but  the  difficulties  of  the 
channel  are  too  many  to  be  easily  made  navigable, 


li 


«' 


RTANZAS. 


81 


"» 


a 


i> 


and  It  waa  not  thought  of  in  the  former  wan,  as 
this  point  seenx^d  to  put  a  limit  to  our  proceediitff 
further;  but  now  we  may  say  we  aro  only  halt- 
way,  as  we  hnve  to  hrealc  nt- w  (ground  before  we 
can  s«!t  upon  thu  dnbatahio  land  of  Orejjon. 

Utifore,  luiwiivcr,  Icavinj;  Laku  Huron,  wo  must 
also  remark  tlio  ports  nf  PcnetantruiHhinc  and 
NottawaKafra.  Thcso  have  linen  already  mm- 
tioned  as  lyini;  nearly  north  of  Turnnto  alioiit  sixty 
or  rij^hty  miit^s.  Tho  country  is  well  sntticd,  and 
troops  and  stores  could  Im  more  eanily  conveyed  to 
this  part,  for  tho  service  of  Lake  Huron,  than  in 
any  other  way,  and  coninuinicalion  kept  up  hettcr 
with  head-quarters,  whether  at  Toronto  or  Niai;a- 
ra,  as  infonnation  rould  ho  ({uiekly  transmitted 
viA  Yoiiije  Sirett  (the  name  of  the  road,  about 
seventy  mileo  loii<;)  ;  besides,  therr;  is  ^ood  winter 
accommodation  for  the  sliips  at  these  places. 

Little  is  known  beyond  the  shores  of  Lake 
Huron  to  any  hut  tho  fur-traders  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  Tlie  writer  of  these  articles  hav- 
ing often  fallen  in  with  these  people,  gained  some 
hearsay  knowledge  of  this  country. 

The  first  place  where  the  traders  put  up  at  is 
Fort  William,  a  station  built  by  the  North-west 
Company,  where  they  received  the  furs  from  the 
hunters  and  traders,  ami  stored  the  (roods  they 
received  from  Montreal  and  the  Canadus,  embark- 
ing the  furs  hero  acrain  for  those  places. 

The  Hudson's  Day  ('tunpany  denied  the  right 
of  the  North-weat  Company  to  trade  or  hunt  in 
certain  districts,  which  they  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  doing  for  years.  As  the  people  in  this  distant 
region  considered  themselves  almost  out  of  the 
pale  of  the  laws,  they  determined  to  bring  the 
matter  to  an  issue  i-t  et  armis.  On  the  reduction 
of  some  foreign  regiments,  De  Meuron's  and  De 
Watteville's,  the  two  rival  companies  enlisted 
several  of  the  men,  who,  with  stune  of  their  offi- 
cers, went  up  to  the  North-west  Territory,  as  it 
was  then  called  ;  and  the  business  did  not  finish 
without  some  bloodshed.  Fort  William  was  sur- 
prised, the  principal  partner  of  the  North-west 
Company  and  some  others  taken  prisoners,  and 
carried  down  to  Canada.  Between  war  and  law, 
the  North-west  Company  was  obliged  to  coalesce, 
and  formed  one  company,  under  the  title  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company. 

It  will  remain  to  be  seen  what  steps  our  govern- 
ment will  pursue  as  to  taking  possession  of  the 
Oregon  Territory,  and  of  keeping  the  Americans 
from  it ;  but  the  distance  is  so  great,  that  this 
cannot  be  effected  without  some  difficulty.  For 
in  the  first  place,  let  us  suppose  troops  on  Lake 
Huron,  there  arc  no  means  of  transporting  them 
across  Lake  Superior  ;  and  even  if  there  were, 
how  are  they  to  be  conveyed  to  the  foot  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  through  a  country  without  a 
house  or  the  least  accommodation  fur  them  ?  All 
their  provisions  would  have  to  go  with  ihem,  and 
there  are  no  beasts  of  burden  fit  for  the  service. 
Pemican  is  bad  food  for  English  soldiers.*  Sup- 
posing these  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  it  would 
take  near  a  whole  summer  to  move  a  regiment  to 
the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains — say  nothing  of 
getting  them  over.  This  scheme  must  be  aban- 
doned. The  other  way  of  getting  to  the  Oregon, 
via  Cape  Horn,  is  so  tedious  that  it  would  be  next 

*  Pemican  is  dried  meat,  chopped  up,  and  mixed  with 
grease ;  it  forms  the  principal  food  of  the  fur-traders. 


to  impossible  to  think  of  doing  anything  in  in 
etiirierit  manner  on  that  side. 

Tlii'rc  la  nevertheh'Hs  an  effective  body  to  bo 
got  on  the  spot,  via.,  the  Traders,  and  their  chil- 
dren the  Bois  Brul<S»,  or  half-breeds.  The  coun- 
try has  plenty  of  them,  and  they  being  loyal 
Hritish  subjects,  there  would  lie  nothing  wrong  in 
employing  them  ;  and  a  few  officers  going  out  to 
organize  them  a  litile,  a  moat  eth-ctivti  lorco  rould 
bo  raised  in  a  short  lime.  They  are  already 
accustomed  to  the  cliiiiale  and  inured  to  hardships. 
The  Americans  that  .Mr.  I'olk  sympathizes  with 
so  much,  are,  no  doubi,  people  of  pretty  much  the 
same  cImks,  though  In;  would  make  them  appear 
as  innocent  as  Arcidian  shepherds.  Wu  well 
know  *♦  </ie  rial  natir  of  llie  ffincwinr  kmUr  ;^' 
and  as  it  may  be  taken  as  a  matter  heyiuid  the 
slightest  doubt  that  they  are  fellows  wh(t  will  nut 
slick  at  trifles,  why,  therefore,  should  we  l>c  scru- 
pulous about  employing  tho  means  in  our  power  to 
protect  the  jiroperly  which  they  would  deprive  us 
of!  Depend  upon  it,  if  it  was  not  worth  having, 
they  never  would  have  thought  of  taking  it :  and 
if  it  is  good  for  them,  it  is  equally  so  for  us.  It  ia 
also  most  certain  that  there  is  no  advantage,  how- 
ever mean,  that  they  will  not  take  against  us  ;  and 
if  we  wish  to  prosper  in  this  business,  we  must  not 
be  particular  a«  to  tho  means  we  may  employ. 


From  the  Amultt. 


STANZAS. 


Why  are  springs  enthroned  so  high, 
Where  the  mountains  kiss  the  sky? 
'Tis  that  thence  their  streams  may  flow, 
Fertilizing  all  below. 

Why  have  clouds  such  Iof\y  flight, 
Basking  in  the  golden  light  ? 
'Tis  to  send  down  genial  showers 
On  this  lower  world  of  ours. 

Why  docs  Jod  exalt  the  greatt 
'T  is  that  they  may  prop  the  state ; 
So  that  toil  its  sweets  may  yield, 
And  the  sower  reap  the  field. 

Riches,  why  doth  he  confer  t 
That  the  rich  may  minister, 
In  the  hour  of  their  distress, 
To  the  poor  and  fatherless. 

Does  He  light  a  Newton's  mind? 
'T  is  to  shine  on  all  mankind. 
•Does  He  give  to  Virtue  birth  ? 
'Tis  the  salt  of  this  poor  earth. 

Reader,  whosoe'er  thou  art, 
What  thy  God  has  given,  impart. 
Hide  it  not  within  the  ground  ; 
Send  the  cup  of  blessing  round. 

Hast  thou  power  ? — the  weak  defend ; 
Light? — give  light :  thy  knowledge  lend  ; 
Rich ?— remember  him  who  gave; 
Free  ?--be  brother  to  the  slave. 

Called  a  blessing  to  inherit. 
Bless— and  richer  blessings  merit : 
Give— -and  more  shall  yet  be  given : 
Love,  and  serve— and  look  for  heaven. 


vic 


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p% 


THI  CRUSADB  AND  THE  CCKSE. 


From  tk*  CInelimul  Ouaiia. 
THB  CRUSADE  AND  THE  CURSE. 

The  National  Intelligencer  quoted  some  days 
tffo  M  article  of  uura  on  the  crusade  against 
Mexico,  and  the  "  Uniun,"  in  transferring  it  to  its 
columns,  roinaiks : 

"  The  facts,  then,  are  these  :  the  I^mdim  Timrs 
was  taking  the  part  of  Mi;xico  agniimt  our  own 
country.  It  sought  to  oncourage  Mexico,  even 
into  war,  by  telling  her  that  she  might  worst  us  in 
the  canapaign  ;  that  she  need  not  dread  an  inva> 
•ton  ;  that  we  had  not  moro  troops  than  were 
necessary  to  g:irrtson  our  own  posts  ;  wo  had  none 
to  spare  for  the  invasion  of  Moxico.  Was  it  not 
right  in  uh  to  cxposu  the  hluuuer  into  which  the 
London  Tinina  had  fallen  ?  to  warn  tlie  British 
ministers,  to  warn  Mexico  herself,  against  the  cun- 
Mquences  of  acting  ujion  these  erroneous  views? 
to  entreat  (irc.it  iiritain  not  to  med-''  "ith  us; 
not  to  stirniilalu  Mexico  to  hnstiliti>  '     force 

tia  to  takeC'alifornia,  and  therP*'  .  us  to 


keep  it  ?     Was  the  spirit  r> 
article,  in  attempting  to  pr* 
injuries  it  would  bring  on  . 
it  wrung  in  us  to  tell 
though  we  might  not  h:  /c 
yet  volunteers  would  »tart 
the  bugle  by  ihc  govk)rnni 
Sufficient  to  overrun  M 
Montezuma,  and  conqu 


of  our 

.th  all  the 

iong?     Was 

■    M  Times  that, 

f  troops  enough, 

the  first  sound  of 

J  the  U(iite<l  Slates 

,  occupy  the  halls  of 

e  valleys  of  California  I 


Whose  spirit,  then,  is  .lie  best,  and  th»»  lost 
p'lC.io— his,  who,  seeing  the  blunder  of  jon- 
do   Times,  sought  to  correct  it,  and  '  out 

the  danger  of  provoking  a  war,  3i  ^  s  .etclicd 
out  the  resources  of  a  free  and  enterprising 
people,  or  the  London  Times,  A'ho  would  en- 
courage Mexico  to  plunge  into  war,  by  the  hope 
of  impunity  and  the  pvospec*  of  success;" 

Let  us,  on  this  question  of  peace  or  war,  waive 
all  minor  mat'  jrs.  The  Union  need  not  fear  the 
loyalty  of  aiiy  party,  if  conflict  comes  with  any 
foreign  nation.  Americans  will  be  Americans  in 
that  hour.  O|.pose  its  coming— regret  it— dread 
it :  all  th;  I  )  iay  be  with  a  portion  of  them.  Hut 
there  will  '  ,  no  fear,  no  division,  when  the  hour 
is :  we  shAll  all  move  together  as  one  man— as  one 
party.  Nor  should  the  Union  trouble  itself  about 
the  London  Times.  That  journal  neither  sways 
the  IJritish  public,  nor  speaks  for  the  British  nnin- 
istry.  And  if  it  did  both,  the  Official  misunder- 
stands  the  real  drift  of  its  articles  about  Mexico, 
if  we  read  tlicm  aright.  But  let  the  Times  go.  It 
was  not  the  reference  to  that ;  it  was  nut  the 
notice  of  any  blunders  committed  by  that  journal ; 
it  was  not  for  any  of  the  suggestions  thrown  out 
by  the  Union,  tliat  we  were  lead  to  speak  and 
write  as  we  did  ;  it  was  the  a^narent  seeming 
purpose  of  the  Official,  slron'- '  ts  lead- 

ing friends,  to  kctp  ali"  it  of  the 

land  ;  to  infli...  people  un- 

necessarily, "  Jnli/,  against 

foreign  pov  ^reparation  for 

conflict;  to  abort,  such  conflict 

even  while  p-  »,  in  speech,  and  preten- 

Bion.  This  it  v..  ^  dreaded,  both  for  tht  pres- 
ent and  for  the  future,  and  this  alone.  And  this 
dread  is  in  nowise  diminished  by  the  explanatory 
article  of  the  Union  ;  for  that  assigns  as  me  reason 
why  it  spoke  as  it  did  the  purpose  to  ••  entreat 
Great  Britain  •  •  not  io  force  us  to  take  Cali- 
fornia, and,  thjerefore,  not  to  tempt  us  to  keep  it." 
Why  should  Great  Britain  force  us  to  do  wrong  1 


Why  tempt  us  to  excess— to  &  boundless  ambition 
for  conquest  ?  But  we  shall  pass  by  all  these 
matters,  and,  if  the  Union  (to  whose  general  fair« 
ncss  and  gentlemanly  bearing  we  bear  cheerful 
testimony)  will  lend  us  its  car  for  a  few  moments, 
wo  will  give  sumo  of  the  causes  for  our  anxiety  on 
this  important  subject. 

1.  The  social  pooition  of  the  West,  as  it  knows, 
is  somewhat  peculiar.  From  a  variety  of  causes 
the  ambition  with  all  to  be  first,  to  get  up  in  the 
world,  is  as  hot  as  ever  inflamed  or  afflicted  the 
human  breast.  The  competition  in  trade— the  in* 
tense,  flerce  energy  with  which  business  and  labor 
are  driven  for  money — not  for  its  sake  simply,  but 
for  the  power  it  gives,  and  the  rank  it  confers — 
these  things  are  as  marked  up<m  the  face  of  our 
society  as  the  foam  on  the  storm-beaten  wave. 
What  climate  stops  our  adventurers?  What 
peril,  by  land  or  sea,  disheartens  or  damps  their 
effi)rt8  ?  What  scheme,  however  mighty,  or  bold, 
alarms  their  fears  or  retards  their  action?  For 
self-advancement,  for  social  power  and  position, 
they  will  brave  anything  and  cvcrything^disease, 
privation,  famine,  even  death  itself.  This  is  a 
characteristic  of  the  social  temper  of  the  west. 

S.  Our  p(dilical  ambition  is,  if  possible,  bolder 
and  more  reckless  than  our  social  ambition.  We 
have  been  educated  in  strife.  We  love  it,  and 
look  for  it,  us  a  ncudssary  aliment  of  life.  The 
people  enter  into  it,  indeed,  us  if  it  were  all  in  all 
to  them,  and  consequently  party  is  carried  into 
everything,  and,  with  few  exceptions,  rules  every- 
thing. For  proof  of  this  wo  need  only  look  at  the 
gigantic  undertakings  by  western  states— their 
failure— the  manner  in  which  that  failure  was  met 
by  thcni— -and  the  ciiaracter  of  their  legislators,  at 
home  and  at  WusliiuQton.  The  latter  conHidera- 
tion  abnc  will  explain  all  we  would  say.  For  one 
cf  the  most  ularining  symptoms  we  have  noticed 
ib,  the  character  of  the  representation,  as  a  whole, 
sent  by  the  west  to  their  home  legislatures  and  to 
congress.  It  is  young,  inexperienced,  reckless, 
ignorant,  coarse,  revolutionary  in  spirit,  and,  in 
part,  infldel  at  heart.  It  scrambles  for  office  by 
using  the  most  polluting  means,  and,  when  in 
offi'^e,  puts  itself  in  market  for  higher  advance- 
r  ,  or  a  surer  position,  with  the  most  corrupt 
*•  outcry.  Let  it  not  be  said  hero  that  any  party 
in  the  west  lacks  the  necessary  virtue  or  intelli- 
gence  to  prevent  this  state  of  things.  They  do 
not.  They  have  enough  of  bcih,  under  a  proper 
eelf-contrni,  to  meet  any  crisis  in  a  wide  and  wise 
spirit,  and  to  do  for  the  count  y  what  the  country 
might  need  in  it.  But  they  have  been  carried 
away,  maddened  and  blinded  by  party  excess 
and  political  ambition,  and  they  have  thus  im- 
pulsively sacrificed,  so  far  as  they  could  sacri- 
fice them,  their  immediate  interests  and  the  inter- 
ests of  the  state  and  nation,  for  the  present  and 
future. 

3.  Our  location — the  very  natural  advantages 
we  enjoy— give  a  vigor,  an  energy  to  human  life, 
which,  with  these  operating  causes,  surround  us 
with  peril.  No  man  can  be  great  without  rever- 
ence, a  love  of  home,  steadiness  and  patience. 
No  nation  can  be  great  or  permanent  without  these 
same  qualities.  Look  at  the  west,  with  this  view, 
geographically.  There  is  hardly  a  spot,  distant 
or  near,  which  may  not  be  reached  in  a  few  days. 
If  the  wayfarer  stands  on  the  wharf  at  Cincinnati, 
he  knows,  as  he  hears  the  escape  of  steam,  that 
he  may  be  at  the  Balize  or  the  Falls  of  St.  An- 
thony ere  he  is  missed  almost  from  home ;  and 


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